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Add-ons that work fine with FF3.6.13 in 1 WinXP SP3 computer don't work in this same model machine.

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  • Last reply by MBroom

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Among the installed add-ins are Ghostery, Google Shortcuts, IE Tab Plus, InformEnter, Lazarus, NoScript, and ZoneAlarm Toolbar. In the other machine, most of those put icons on the status bar; here only the last does (although I told others to). I assume the "problem" is with Firefox, not the individual add-ons.

Also (related?) all of the tabs are very small, showing only icons except when the mouse hovers over them.

Among the installed add-ins are Ghostery, Google Shortcuts, IE Tab Plus, InformEnter, Lazarus, NoScript, and ZoneAlarm Toolbar. In the other machine, most of those put icons on the status bar; here only the last does (although I told others to). I assume the "problem" is with Firefox, not the individual add-ons. Also (related?) all of the tabs are very small, showing only icons except when the mouse hovers over them.

Chosen solution

Try the section on corrupt extension files in the Unable to install add-ons (extensions or themes) add-ons article, if any of those files mentioned are corrupt it can cause problems with add-ons not working.


As for the size of the tabs, you have a couple of preferences set that will force the tabs to be small. To revert to the default settings do this:

  1. Type about:config into the location bar and press enter
  2. Accept the warning message that appears, you will be taken to a list of preferences
  3. Locate the preference browser.tabs.tabMaxWidth, right-click on it and choose Reset
  4. Locate the preference browser.tabs.tabMinWidth, right-click on it and choose Reset
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Try the section on corrupt extension files in the Unable to install add-ons (extensions or themes) add-ons article, if any of those files mentioned are corrupt it can cause problems with add-ons not working.


As for the size of the tabs, you have a couple of preferences set that will force the tabs to be small. To revert to the default settings do this:

  1. Type about:config into the location bar and press enter
  2. Accept the warning message that appears, you will be taken to a list of preferences
  3. Locate the preference browser.tabs.tabMaxWidth, right-click on it and choose Reset
  4. Locate the preference browser.tabs.tabMinWidth, right-click on it and choose Reset
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1-8 & 10-11 were N/A or already OK. 9 MAY have been the right answer. Here's why "MAY":

I closed Firefox, then zipped & deleted the 3 listed files. When I restarted Firefox, this message popped up:

    "Firefox has a built-in session restore feature. Would you like to enable built-in session restore and disable the Tab Mix Plus Session Manager?"

I chose Yes. When Firefox came back up, the add-ons' status bar icons and other indicia returned. I assume that corrupt config. files was the correct diagnosis, but thought I should mention the other possibility.

Thanks for the help! Not the sort of thing I'd have found on my own. And thanks for the thoroughness of the reply. So often someone only supplies -- to be fair often only CAN supply -- the solution that worked for him.